even though president obama and john boehner chatted by phone, there's no deal. republicans are not amused. >> incredibly many top democrats including the president seem perfectly happy to go off the cliff. that's why the president has been more interested in campaign rallies than actually negotiating a deal. >> many americans don't have much hope the two sides will make a deal and have moved to plan b. a retired teacher in utah has put off plans to get a new car. brian chandler, a data manager in atlanta is delaying buying a house despite needing space for a second kid due any day now and several families are shrinking the gift pile beneath the christmas tree this year. how about you? are you prepared if the nation goes off the fiscal cliff? facebook.com/carolcnn. facebook.com/carolcnn. your responses later this hour. >>> it's going to take massive amount of money to help the northeast recover from sandy. some $36 billion in new jersey alone. and now it's governor chris christie pushing the federal government to pick up 100% of that cost. if you are one of the m